"move off"

Question

Hello, I'd like to ask if the following sentence is correct in this situation:

My car got stuck in the mud and the engine won't start.

Can I say: "I tried to move off but I did it too fast"?

Thanks in advance for any response.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Welcome to English Forums!

What concept are you trying to communicate with your choice of words "move off"? In other words, what did you do too fast? You tried to get out of the mud too fast? You drove too fast, and that made you get stuck in the mud? If the engine wouldn't start, then I don't see how anything could be happening too fast! Do you really mean the engine would not start?

It's hard to answer your question without more information.

CJ

Tmn111 · Answer

I meant "I tried to make my car move"
something like "I tried to start my engine but I did it to fast"

I found the following in the longman dictionary:

move off

if a vehicle or group of people moves off, it starts to leave

CalifJim · Answer

tmn111I meant "I tried to make my car move"
something like "I tried to start my engine but I did it to fast"

For this situation, I would not use "move off". "move off" means something more like "go away", "leave", "depart", "disperse". I associate "slowly" with this kind of motion.

If you are concentrating on starting the engine, you are talking about turning the key in the ignition switch. This is not the same as trying to make the car move. After turning the key to get the engine started, you have to apply your foot to the gas pedal (the accelerator). This second action is not "starting the engine".

I think you are actually trying to say something a little different, something like the following.

The car was stuck in the mud. I put my foot on the gas, but I did it too fast, so the wheels just kept spinning, and I didn't get anywhere.

You can say any of these for the same basic idea:

I tried to get (the car) out of the mud, but I ...
I tried to drive (the car) out of the mud, but I ...
I tried to take off (out of the mud), but I ...

But I like this better:

I put my foot on the gas, but I did it too fast ... [as above]

CJ

Tmn111 · Answer

thanks very much.

Can you tell me now what exactly "move off" means?

Thanks.

CalifJim · Answer

You replied while I was editing. I added that information near the beginning of my previous post.

CJ

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